A Day in the Life of a "Winter Texan Retiree"

Dan's really gotten into reading his book by David Baldacci "The Simple Truth"---almost read the whole thing in 2 days. This is the "hot spot" at 8:30--the Ladies Water Aerobics in the heated pool.

The truly "hot spot"--the jacuzzis/hot tubs (2).

The golf course- tee-off for Hole #1--in a photographic technique we didn't know we had--takes the color right out of ya!

The 3-par Golf Course

We're really getting a little more color than this--might actually come home with a light tan:)

We're headed for the pancake breakfast this morning.....Have a Great Weekend!

South of the Border...Down Mexico Way....

Marilyn, Ed, Diane & Dan went to Progresso, Mexico today for some shopping. Diane & Ed were the only "shoppers"---Diane bought a margarita pitcher and a rug, and Ed some medicine from one of the numerous pharmacias....Dan and Marilyn each only bought a margarita ---which was a little stout--Dan didn't finish his, and Marilyn's made her a little lightheaded:)
Border Crossing

On the bridge over the Rio Grande River

We found a Mexican Bakery popular with the

Winter Texan touristas...a sweet roll & a Coca-Cola Light

This is the Mexican/USA border fence in construction.

A Crazy Gringo:)

Crazy Gringo's Wife/Sombrero "Sweetie"

Marilyn & Diane on their way to Progreso, Mexico

Tuesday Texas Thoughts

Right outside our camper..... Orange trees, grapefruit trees, etc. surround us....unfortunately because of a freeze they are more decorative than tasty.

We were out on the "links" today to play 18-holes....unlike the 9-par I referred to earlier--they are actually 3-par (I like playing 9-par myself:)

A little windy but a lot of fun--Marilyn "eyeing" the lie.....

Ed who happens to have a "golfing/Grandaddy Burgess" hat almost like Seth's....Ed also has a Greg Norman hat he wore for the second 9 holes today--pretty stylish fellow!

Dan just relaxin' ---he told us today his "work" here is to keep his chair "on the move" from shade to shade--He's doing a good Job!

We're going to water aerobics in the morning (the pool is heated and large and fantastic with 2 jacuzzis--anxious to spend more time there), and then off on a trip to Mexico...parking at the border and walking over.

Hope your week is going well!

HOW FAR IS PHARR?
We've arrived at Pharr, Texas, some 1200 miles from Denver and settled in nestled in by orange trees.

Marilyn & Ed's rig/fifth wheeler.

Dan's really not grimacing--but holding his sunglasses in his mouth--catching up with Marilyn & Ed.

We had a tour of the facilities in the morning, went to Camping World in the afternoon, and visited several ropas--where they sell clothes by the pound--also saw the new border fence the USA is building between Mexico and Texas (too far away to get a good picture). Then around 5, the campgrounds had a 90-strong golf cart parade as a fund raiser for cancer.

Marilyn & I are off to water aerobics this morning, and the 4 of us are golfing on the 9-par this afternoon. Happy Tuesday!

The River Walk, San Antonio, Texas 2/21/2009

THE RIVER WALK, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

I look like the cat that swallowed the canary--just having a

good time. Wish you were here!

REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

CHEERS FROM THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK!

We went to the Alamo in San Antonio, too. Surprised to find out there actually were survivors of the Alamo (other than the Mexicans:)....the woman and children and a slave were given $2 and some clothes and allowed to go free....a little history for you today. We saw Davy Crockett's Kentucky Long Rifle and Jim Bowie's knives....

The Alamo itself looked pretty small from the outside--surprisingly large from within...no pictures allowed inside...several big rooms/areas--like a church--I always thought it was a fort, but it is a mission instead. And I always pictured it in my mind as out in the country, but it is now mid-city, surrounded by large hotels and businesses.

Like all wars/skirmishes makes me wonder if the Mexicans didn't deserve it more than we did---probably an unpopular thought....

More pictures of the River Walk coming up in the next segment, since I haven't figured out the blogging very well yet.

Happy Sunday!

We're getting ready to "close her up" and head east to Pharr, Texas where Marilyn & Ed are residing as "Winter Texans". It is only 250 miles, so we'll be there later this afternoon.

THE BARBER TEXAS ODYSSEY - DAY 3

Good Morning, Happy Campers, and a Good Weekend to You!
Greetings from San Antonio, Texas....

Not many pictures today as we were on the road yesterday from 9:30 'til about 8 pm--with a few quick stops.

1. Dan "Drivin' the Bus"

2. Texas Roadhouse in Texas--imagine that!!!

3. Flags--where you see an American Flag,

you almost always see a Texas Flag right below it--
They're Proud Texans

4. "Country Collectibles"--looked like my kind of store--antiques, junque, clutter, "poking around" store--but it was closed

5. Old stone library in Fredericksburg--a neat town with a German flair--with all sorts of shops, restaurants with people sitting outside like Paris, Missi! (and no--that's not snow on the picture--just dirty window--picture taken from inside the "bus")

Highlights:
1. We were surrounded by Wind Turbines/Wind Farms yesterday most of the day--they looked like Indians standing guard on top of the mesas--
2. Jean and Reggie called--mark your calendars--they are coming to Denver June 11-22. Seth, do you have room?
3. Passed a roadside fire and lots of smoke, complete with firetrucks and little old women stopping to try to put out the fire....I wasn't fast enough for a picture...had to get out of the way of the firetruck and little old ladies
4. It was WINDY.....WINDY...WINDY

I promise better pictures next time, as we are headed for the ALAMO and the River Walk this morning.

Dan promised some pictures of our trip--so here's Day #1:
1. Fields of windmills across southeast Colorado--must have been hundreds of them.
2. A crop duster who "buzzed" us. I wasn't very good in trying to get him centered what with the motor home and the plane all movin' at the same time:)
3. "OKLAHOMA... Where the Wind comes sweeping down the plain..."
4. A Friendly Metal Dinasour..sp? in one of the small towns.
5. End of the Day

We ended up in Amarillo, Texas for the night--next stop hopefully San Antonio for a little sightseeing and a few more exciting pictures:)